LANCE ERIC = JUSSE SMOLLETT
Bang Tango bassist Fat shames himself, accuses others and plays victim

 — Anyone remember the story of Jusse Smollett, the guy from Chicago who was arrested for making up a hate-crime attack?

Well it seems the rock community has our own Jusse Smollett.

His name is Lance Eric from the band Bang Tango.

The short version is, Lance posted an update from the road and in doing so, took a few cheap shots and bullied Bang Tango’s original members.

Then oddly, he Fat shamed himself by writing ‘Im A Fat Fuk’.

Lance Eric posted on Facebook on July 2nd  at 9:12PM and hashtagged the following: #MarkKnightWho #ImAFatFuk and #StayHomeDrunkie among other things. (See inset lower right)

It’s fairly self-explanatory that when someone uses the letters “Im”, or “I’m”, like in the #ImAFatFuk hashtag, one would assume they are referring to one’s self.

The ‘Mark Knight who’ was clearly referring to original Bang Tango guitarist and the ‘stay home drunkie’ … this was directed at another former original member of Bang Tango.

Lance felt it okay to bully, and disrespect these original Bang Tango members in his hashtags, and then threw himself under the bus.

Well, this is Metal Sludge, so we’re not doing the short version, you’re getting the long version and all the facts.

Why he dissed the original Bang Tango guys?

Well that has been going on for years (as covered by Sleazeroxx) and it seems Lance feels threatened by the possibility of a reunion.

But why he would Fat shame himself, in his own post, well… that is hard to understand.

Kind of like trying to understand Jusse Smollett’s story.

Emphasis on the word story.

A few comments were made on Lance’s post about the hastags and some people didn’t find them acceptable, myself included.

So… I defended the original Bang Tango members by saying they deserved “Respect”.

Lance then quickly removed all of the hashtags.

To be transparent, outside of a Facebook like, or a simple IM, with the exception of Joe LeSte, I have not had contact with any member of the original Bang Tango band in more than 25 years.

I defended them, simply because I felt they were being wronged and bullied by Lance Eric.

So, just being upfront here, noone asked or suggested I do any of what has transpired to date, between Lance and I.

This bullying from Lance towards Mark Knight in particular, has been going on for a few years now. I got sick of seeing it, and spoke out.

This enraged Lance who immediately went on the offense writing multiple posts, which included calling me a “Fucking pussy” and numerous insults.

I replied again and shot down everything he said.

Lance once again, for whatever reason deleted all of my comments along with his own. But not before I screen captured all of it found HERE.

After Lance erased all of his bullying comments, I decided to write my article, RESPECT THE BRAND to speak out about his continued disrespect towards the band’s history and original members.

I felt his #MarkKnightWho dis, was uncool and let him have it.

I compared it to other bands by writing: “This is the equivelant of Alex Grossi posting #CarlosCavazoWho or John Corabi using #VinceNeilWho … but neither of those guys would ever do that. Who would? Lance Eric, that’s who.”

In my article, I never once insulted Lance, did not name-call him and simply suggested for him to respect the brand (musicians) who wrote the songs he was playing and helped build Bang Tango.

It appears that Lance was more embarassed than ever by my post and opted to make up a story to defend himself and ultimately fish for sympathy on Facebook.

Lance is now accusing others of calling him Fat (See inset left) writing: “50+ year old “men” calling another guy fat to insult him. Sad.”

He is leading people to believe that Metal Sludge, and myself have in fact called him these names, “Fat” and “Fatfuck”.

This has never happened, not once.

I fully understand this a sensitive subject, especially with the current state of anti-bully campaigns in America along with similar, like the #metoo movement.

But to random fans and ass kissers like Brandon Gibbs, Lance has apparently hit a soft spot and they believe it.

“Body shaming to me set a whole new tone of stupid” — Brandon Gibbs

Body shaming?

Really Brandon, don’t you have a community college in Iowa to speak at and tell the kids all about your career?

How does I never said it sound, so shut the fuck up.

Too bad none of these people seem to realize that Lance just went Smollett on them.

Lance was the bully, who is now claiming he’s been bullied.

Can you say hypocrite?

Like Jusse Smollett, Lance Eric has made up a story here, and actually did to himself  – exactly what he is now accusing others (me) of doing to him.

Lance has replied to several of the dozens of comments on his July 4th posting and is blaming me for something that never happened.

I went as far as to write a reply (screen captured at the bottom of this page), and nicely asked Lance to come clean as he knew I never said these things. But Mr. Eraser keeps deleting all of my comments.

So once again I am forced to make a more public statement here on Metal Sludge, to be transparent for all to see both sides.

I have added several of Lance’s comments throughout this article and in my RESPECT THE BRAND post, all unedited.

Lance replied to one fan writing: “Luckily he has a side job of making up lies, body shaming and talking shit on the people he is most jealous of. ”

Lance also wrote the following directed at me; “Stevie Rachelle, get a life dude. No one cares. Isn’t your only job “talking shit” about everyone? You want to talk disrespectful? All they can do is call me Fat. That is pretty weak.”

Who is the ‘they’ that Lance is referring to, when typing a response to me?

Again, he has since deleted all of this, but of course it’s all screen captured and shared right HERE.

Jealous of…. I am not sure who would be jealous of Lance Eric and for what.

Lies?

This whole story from Lance is a lie.

And talking shit?

Is talking shit, only talking shit if people read it on Metal Sludge or on someone’s social media?

Or is talking shit, still talking shit – if you do it through text messages, IM, or in private conversation as well?

I think talking shit, is just that.

You see Lance has a lot of opinions of many people in this business. Guys he has played with and some he is touring with right now.

In scrolling back through my various IM exchanges with Lance Eric, I see a few dozen, not so nice comments (shit talking) about members of FireHouse, Steel Panther, Ratt, Stryper, Poison and even Faster Pussycat.

You get the point… this guy Lance Eric talks shit, then insults himself and cries on Fanbook looking for sympathy.

Then he runs around pointing fingers at “shit talkers”, yet he’s doing it all day long himself.

Sure, this whole thing is silly and petty. But hey, if you wanna play with fire, do not forget… you can always get burned.

I will address the rest of my article… directly to Lance Eric.

Hey Lance, you are the bully and you are the liar.

You got called out for being a dick, and now you’ve tried to play a little game with me here, but you lose.

You have nothing to back your claim, because it never happened.

And even if someone did call you fat, you’re 45, not 5

You’re also 6’3″ and 300 pounds, yet you come off like a little kid who got hurt playing murder ball.

Get over it and act like a Man, not a Cub Scout.

“Mommy, someone called me Fat”

No Lance, you called yourself Fat.

Speaking of…. are you still living with your Mom?

To be precise, you wrote it out, I’m A Fat Fuk. It’s screen captured, on your post at the top right of this page.

Where is the proof that I called you Fat, or Fat Fuk?

It never happened, you’re a liar Lance, you did this to yourself.

Can you say self sabotage?

You’ve made comments to me,  joking and kidding;  “Here comes Powder” referencing the bald white dude in the movie “Powder”.

I ignored you everytime you did this.

As you know, this happened numerous times for years, from backstage, to texts and again in Facebook messnger.

Then you’d say; “No Fat Jokes”.

I have the screen captures to prove this along with the rest of your disrespectful diarrhea filled comments about your peers.

Shall I post all of those, I think I have 23 screen captures ready to go.

So…if you can call me “Powder”, than I get to call you “Tommy Boy” right?

Or will you go on Facebook and tell the fans Stevie bullied you again?

After a while I got annoyed, as it was like you were trying to push me around with your words, acting like a hard ass.

Admittedly, it really pissed me off after hearing it one too many times.

However, I decided to take the high road, instead of grabbing you by your throat and jabbing my fingers into your eyes.

That almost happaned at “80’s In The Park” a few years back, but luckily for you…. someone talked me out of it.

That would have been a shitty weekend as you spent it in E.R. and myself in jail.

You want a public spat with me Lance, well now you got one.

You talk about my hair… well that’s fine, but remember you spray paint yours on with black paint.

Are you still traveling with your own pillow?

You know the one you take on the road, so if you have a girl come back after the show, she doesn’t see your spray-on-hair paint all over the motel pillows.

Negativity?

Your negative comment about Mark Knight is why we’re here.

And isn’t crying on Facebook about being name-called a bit weak for a Rock Star?

You are a Rock Star right?

With your mirrored sun glasses, fingerless gloves, scarfs, eye-liner, black nail polish and fur coat.

A fur coat, are you serious?

You look like a local Plummer traded clothes with Liberace.

I own everything I say Lance.

All of it.

I will own it to your face the same.

Sure I have talked some shit, we all do. But I can back mine up as well.

I do my homework Lance, clearly you do not.

And I do not lie, ever.

I speak the truth.

You are a liar and a hypocrite.

You wrote lies about me and are looking for sympathy at my expense, not going to happen Lance.

I am relentless and will not go away, so you might want to acknowledge the fact, that I never said or wrote those things about you.

You wanna talk shit about me? No problem, I can hang. Talk all you want, but maybe learn to take it – if you’re dishing it out.

However, if you make up blantant lies, and put words in my mouth, that I never said or wrote, well then we have a problem.

As for you taking shots at my bands,  third world country tours, or career path – are you serious? I shit on you in all areas of this business.

The fact is Lance, you have a low opinion of yourself, you are the one with the insecurities…. you even hastagged #ImAFatFuk

That’s your problem, go get help and get over it but don’t drag my name into your self-loathing pity party.

Have fun on tour and keep my name out of your mouth unless you can handle the aftermath.

Stevie Rachelle
* My reply to Lance that he continues to delete is posted below.